Electric coupling.



J. L, COBB.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 21,1913

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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36121? L. COBB, OF L055 .&

ELEKJTE-IG CGLLINGu Application filed J 1117 23,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN L. (loss, a cit zen of the United States, residing at Los Angele's, in the county 01 Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and usefol improvements in Electric Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates'to trsiocouplers, and particularly to train pipe couplers equipped with electric. coupling means for connecting up the various electrical circuits throughout the length of the train; and the invention consists in certain. combinations andilo certain specific details Which Will he hereinafter pointed out.

Une of the features of my invention is the combination of an electrical contact mechahisrn with a'fluid'pressure coupling mocha nism, so that thecontacts are pressed gether when the fluid couplers are pressed togetherpand a feature is the arrangement to give the contacts a relative movement in the plane of their engaging surfaces by c eratio'o' of the air pressure which is ado. ed to 'andthrough the coupler when ioproper engagement. To efiect this relative movement prefer to have the contact heads revol'uhle in the plane of their engaging "faces, and I employ a simple mechanism operable by the lluid pressure passingthrough the'fioid pressure duct of the coupler to give the contact head a small relative rotation when they are pressed to gether. A

' Er. c accornoanying drawings, 1 have illiistrated my improved form of train-pipe coupler; and it will he sees that any other form or" coupler, which accomplishes the operations to he hereinafter described, will he sudicieiit. I shall describe my improved form of coupler insofar as it may cooperate with my electrical contact mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectioo showingmy improved form of coupler and electrical contact mechanism, the two opposite coupling; eieme ts sing shown in the operation of engaging with each ohen- Fig. 2 is a section taken as indicated by line 22 of Fig. 3..

Ii th drawings, l have shown a pair of members or elements designated generally by the numerals) and each con- Spcciflcation of Letters Potent.

Patoo'tedfiec. 22,

2913. Serial No. 7556,2531

sisting of a frame 30 and a'pivoted ressure carrying box 10 Each frame 10 is made up of a guide tongue 11 throat 12, the throat of each member adapted to re ceive the guide tongue of the other. Each frame has a surface 13 against, which the forward cod ofa block lei of the other frame is adapted to abut, thus limitiog" the movement of the members toward each other a longitudinal direction.

The measure carrying boxes 3.0 are each? I pivoted at 26 so that thsy'roay av pivoted mover-sent on th freezes, so that; theremay he a small spec retirees. lZl1%ll lersto P1 7 n lbocu o:

has a yoke 25.1

engaging gether loiiggitu pressiire carry baring slip t ed to e gage ih a 11 when. the c ch 2% in tongue are in their ioterlocking pos he couplers more to gether it he seeo that the outer faces of the tongues Eli-core over the lips 23, so that the pressure carrying boxes 10 are thrown away from ach other, until the coureach their final positions. l in the notches 24E the pressure carrying boxes may move inwardly toward each other. merit positively accomplisaed by the ends which lip is adapt This more 11 of the tongue riding up oyer surfaces at therearends 11?- of the pivoted ressure carrying boxes. Thus, when the couplers come into correct longitudinal position, the pressure carrying boxes are forced laterally or transversely together, their surfaces 21 co-engaging, and the lips 23 are forced into notches 2% so that the coupler elements are held against being pulled. apart. After the coupler elements are engaged in this mannor, fluid pressure is admitted tothe interior passage ways or ducts 3-5 of the boxes 10", and this air gressure, or any other fluid, pressure, acts upon diaphragms 3%,which then press outwardly against the tongues 11, pressing the tongues into engagement with the lips 23, and the same time pressing the. boxes away from the tongue aridpress ing them together. I U Each of the boxes 10 can contain corneartments or passages 35 as is necessa an in my preferred form of constr: ctioh i utilize the central passage for passage of these soft as may be desired';

train pipe air, while I use the upper compartment 35 for my electrical contact mechanism. This electrical contact mechanism may comprise as many contact heads I have shown a ,mechanism containing four contact heads mounted upon four contact stems 41 which are placed in the compartment 35 at right angles to the contacting face of the box 10*. hese stems -11 are preferably supported in insulated hearings in any preferred manner; and they are pressed forwardly toward the contact face 21 by a suitable spring 42. When pressed forward by the springs 42, the contact heads40 are pressed slightly beyond the contact surface 21; and sufficient backward movement of the contact heads is allowed so that, when the corresponding contact heads of opposite coupler elements engage and are pressed against each other, the pressure will be taken up by the springs 42. It Will be understood that the contact heads do not'project sufficiently to strike or rub over each other. as the coupler elements move togetherllengitudinally; that they are only brought together by the transverse movements of the pressure carrying boxes when they are in correct opposite position.

Surrounding each contact head is a plas tic gasket 43, preferably made of soft rubber. -These'gaskets project beyond the surfaces 21, about flush with the outer contact faces of contacts 40, and are adapted to coengage and to be pressed together when the boxes l0 are pressed together. Pressing rubber them to fill the spaces in which they are placed very tightly and to tightly press against contact heads 40 thus forming moisture proof joints which will prevent entrance of moisture to the compartments 35 This is an important feat re as it prevents access of moisture to the electrical connections within the compartments.

Each of the stems 41 has an armwhich engages in any suitable manner with piston rod 51. may use any form of means operable by air pressure in the ducts 35, but I prefer to use a piston 52 mounted upon the piston rod 51 and mounted within a small cylinder 53, there being a suitable gasket 54 which is struck by the piston, 52 at the end of its pressure impelled movement, so as to make a tight nonleaking joint when. the piston reaches the end of its movement, A suitable spring 55 presses thepiston and iston rod oppositely against the pressure induce movement keeping them in the normal position shown in Fig. 2. When pressure is admitted'to the sage 35, as it is after the couplin arc inter-locked, Wardly and will contact heads 40.

elements the piston 52 Wil move upelements together,

gaskets together causes pascause the rotation of the he contact heads will rotate in the opposite directions ..against.

each other, so that a good sliding or we bing engagement is obtained between them which tends to clean the contact heads each time a contact is made.

It will be understood that the purposes of my invention are fulfilled .by giving the contact heads a relative movement in the plane of their contacting surfaces; and I may either cause this relative movement by moving only one set of the contact heads or by moving both sets of contact heads. I prefer to move both sets of heads-and to move them in opposite directions, as this makes the coupling elements all symmetrical and duplicates of each other.

aving described a preferred form of my invention, I claim': i

1. In a train-pipe coupler, a pair of interlocking coupler elements and means for pressing said elements together, revoluble contact heads on the elements situated opposite each other to be pressed into engagement by the pressing together of said ele-. ments, and means to give a relative rotary movement to said contact heads.

2. In a train-pipe coupler, a pair of coupler elements and means for pressing said coa'perating movable contact heads mounted oppositely on the coupler elements with contact faces adapted to co-engage, and means to move said contact heads relatively to of their engaging faces.

3. In a train-pipe coupler, a pair of coupler elements, having fluid pressure passages therethrough, means for pressingsaid elements into engagement with each other, c0- operating movable contact heads mounted oppositely on the tact faces adapted operable by fluid elements to move said contact heads relatively to each other in the plane of their. engaging faces.

In a train-pipe coupler, pler elements having fluid therethrough,- means for ments into engagement with operating rotatable contact oppositely on tact faces adapted to co-engage, and means operable" by fluid pressurein the coupler elements to give said contac I 5 heads a'.rela tive rotation in the plane oftheir faces.

to co-engage', and means a pair of conpressure passages each other, co-

tive rotation in the plane of their engaging 2' each other in the plane coupler elements with conpressure in the coupler pressing said ele- 5. In a train-pipecouplerya pair of can:

fluid pressure passages I heads mounted the coupler elements WltlLCODrn to co-engage, and meanspressure in the. coupler 2 corresponding contact head.

In a train-pipe coupler, a pair of conpler elements having fluid pressure passages therethrough, means for pressin 'said elements into engagement with each other, oo-

19 operating rotatable contact heads mounted oppositely on the coupler elements With contact laces adapted .to co-engag and means" operable by fiuid pressure in the coupler elements to give said contact heads a relative rotation in the plane of their engaging faces, said means embodying movable pistons having one end exposed to fluid pressure in said passages, means to move said pistons against the fluid pressure, and

20 connecting means between the pistons and the corresponding contact heads to cause rotary movement of the heads by virtneof movement of the pistons- 1 7. in a train-pipe coupler, a pair of interengaging coupler elements adapted to move together longitudinally and having fluid passages tlierethrougli, means operated by fluid pressure in said passages to press said elements together, contact heads movably mounted on the elements opposite each other therein so an adjoining chamber and adapted to be pressed into engagement by the elements being placed together, and means operable by finid pressure in said pas sages to move said. contact heads relatively .35 to each other.

8. In a train-pipe coupler, a pair of inter engaging coupler elements adapted to more tog'cthefi longitudinally and be ing fluid passagestherethrough; means operated by elements together, lQVOlUblQCOllt-Mlt heads stems of an. abutting head, and means for revolving said stems by the air pressure in the adjoining air chamber.

11. In a train-pipe coupler, a. head pro vided with an air pressure chamber, and an adjoining chamber containing therein stems which project through the contact Wall of the head, each of said stems being revolubly mounts-din the head, a piston rod connected with said stems, the end of the piston rod having piston head, a partition wall between the two chambers having a cylinder therethrough adapted. to receire the piston head whereby the pressure of air in the air chamber Fill longitudinally move said piston and cause movement of said stems.

12. In a coupler, pair of interlocking coupler frames adapted to more longitudinally into interengagement with each other, cooperating contact heads mounted on the framesvso be transversely IROVablQ thereon means operated by the relative movement Oi the frames into interlocking posit-ion to hold said heads apart during said movement and to force said heads together at the end of said nioveinent, and means for merin said cont-act heads relatively to each other in the plane of their engaging faces.

i3. In a coupler, a pair of interlocking coupler frames adapted to more longitudinally into interlocking engagement with each other, contact carrying members trans vcrsely movable on said frames, cooperating contact heads in opposing faces of said members to hold members transversely apart. during the interlocking movement of the frames and to force said members together at t1 e end of said movement, and means to more said contact heads relatively low 4o lluid pressure in sin passages to press saidgi, to each other in the plane of their engaging lfa es.

mounted on the elements opposite each otherfl 14. in coupler, a pair of interlocking having faces adapted. to co-engage rirt'ue ct the elements being pressed together, and

means operable by fluid pressure in said assages to rotate said contact heads Z'Qlir tively to each other in the plane oi: their engaging faces. U

{ In a lllil1"-})i pc coupler, a head having a cl inccii'e air pressure, and an ad o. r having electrical incclmnism. \r'lllCll pro' iect through the contacting b1 and means bctive ll'tlllgl' a mot contact ng stuns chamber.

10. In a traiiopipc coupler, a head having chamber adapted to iccei vo air pre; are.

having Qlv-ClilA mechanism; therein. stems connected liLl'l said clccirical mechanism projecting through the contact wall of said head resilient means "for keeping said contact stems of wall of the coupler i said chambers for l of re olution to the air pressure in t -35 one head in, engagement With the contact frames adap e-il LO more longitudinally into interlocking cngag nent with each other, 2 joint forming member pirated to each frame, said members adapted to move transfy on. their respectixe frames to and otner, coopi'native contactbeads led. in opposing faces of the joint formncnibei's, means for holding the joi t ling members and heads apart during; interlocking ;-nioi'ement of the frames and for forcing said members and heads transversely together at the compile-ion of said movement, fluid pressure operated means to force the jointforining members and heads together, and pressure operated means .to more said. contact licsds relatively to each other in the plane of their engaging faces.

15. In a coupler, a pair of interlocking frames adapted to more longitudinally into interlocking engagement with each other, a joint forming member pivoted to each frame, said members adapted to more trans rersel on their respective fl2t1l16SlZG and from each other, cooperative contact heads pressure operated means mounted in the carried in opposlng faces of the joint formsaid members adapted to. cause relative ing members, means for holding the joint movementfof the heads in the plane of their 1.5 forming members and heads apart during engaging feces. v

5 interlocking movement of the frames and In Witness that'I claim the foregoing I for forcing said members and heads transhave hereunto subscribed my name this 14th versely togeithei' at the oompletion of said day of July, 1913. r movement, ui pressure connection to t e joint forming members, fluid pressure oper- N COBB 10 ated means carried. by the members to ress Witnesses:

against the interlocking frames and oree JAMES T. BARKELEW, the members and heads together, and fluid Enwoon H. BARKnLnw. 

